Balloon with shape control for spinal procedures

Abstract

In intervertebral operative spinal procedures, using separate or pre-attached spreader blocks to control the directional growth of a distracting balloon.

We claim: 
     
       1. A surgical system, comprising:
 a tube configured to be received in a disc space; 
 an implant configured to be received in a disc space, the implant having a height defined by first and second surfaces, a width defined by third and fourth surfaces, and a slot extending between the third and fourth surfaces, the implant being configured to contact opposed vertebral body endplates of the disc space; and 
 a balloon that is configured to abut the opposed vertebral body endplates, the balloon being inflated with sufficient pressure to distract the disc space; 
 wherein the balloon abuts the implant when expanded. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the balloon is disposed within a portion of the tube. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the balloon is disposed within the slot of the implant. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is introduced into the disc space through a throughbore in the tube. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the balloon is introduced into the disc space through a throughbore in the tube. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the balloon is comprised of multiple circular devices. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the balloon contacts one or more surfaces of the implant to constrain directional expansion of the balloon by directing the expansion to occur in the vertical direction. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the balloon expansion is in a vertical direction. 
     
     
       9. A surgical method, comprising:
 inserting an implant into a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies, the implant having a height defined by first and second surfaces, and a width defined by third and fourth surfaces; 
 placing a balloon into the disc space, the balloon having a proximal opening attached to a distal end of a cannula, the balloon being inserted in a non-expanded state; and 
 inflating the balloon to an expanded state to distract the disc space, the balloon abutting the implant during expansion to guide the expansion in a predetermined direction, 
 wherein at least a portion of the balloon in the expanded state is positioned external to the implant. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising filling the balloon under high pressure to distract the disc space. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising filling the balloon with any of bone cement, osteoinductive cement, bone particles, bone substitutes, growth factors, BMP, viscous gels, curable elastomers, or hydrogels. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the implant is inserted through the cannula. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the balloon abuts a distal end portion of one of the first and second surfaces of the implant. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising deflating the balloon to revert the balloon to its non-expanded state. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising removing the implant and the balloon from the disc space.